POLICE are hunting a man who tried to strangle a cleaner at Medway Maritime Hospital.

The 31-year-old woman was cleaning a room when the man came up behind her and wrapped a vacuum cleaner cable around her neck. But the woman, who lives in Gillingham, struggled free and alerted security.

Police and hospital security scoured the building and grounds for the attacker but failed to find him. They are now appealing for help to find the man, believed to be in his 30s.

The attack happened in the main building of Medway Maritime Hospital in Windmill Road at 6.30pm on Tuesday. Hospital security guards dashed to the scene when the alarm was raised but the attacker had fled.

The woman, a member of the hospital's housekeeping staff, suffered only minor injuries. Police are looking for a white man, clean shaven, with short fair hair. He is of medium build and about 5ft 8in.

He was wearing a blue and white, checked, long-sleeve shirt, stonewashed jeans and dark boots or shoes. His speech was slurred and the woman believed he had been drinking.

Anyone with information should call DC Paula Forman on 01634 884252.